Key holder



J. a. MANGAN July 16, 1935.

KEY HOLDER Filed June 15, 1933 INVENTOR Joseph B.Man

ATTO R N EY Patented July 16, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE 15 Claims.

This invention relates to key holders or retainers, and more particularly to an automatic type of retainer in the form of a case from which the keys may be selectively and partially ejected 5 whenever desired.

One object of this invention is to provide a key retainer of the above nature in which a plurality of keys may be received in separated com- .partments, and from which they may be auto- 10 matically ejected by spring pressure by the manual operation of push buttons.

A further object is to provide a key retainer of the above nature having an individual sliding cage for each key, said cages being adapted to receive various sizes and shapes of key heads, and also adapted to be detachably locked within the compartments of said retainer.

A further object is to provide a key retainer of the above nature which will be simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble and manipulate, compact, ornamental in appearance, and very eflicient and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view there have been illustrated on the accompanying drawing, two forms in which the invention may be conveniently embodied in practice.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of the automatic key retainer showing one key in ejected position.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the same, showing the push-button mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a similar View showing the key in telescoped position.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the same, taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view through the key holding cage of the modified form shown in Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawing in which like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral l indicates a flat rectangular shaped box or casing adapted to be conveniently carried in the hand or pocket, and readily manipulated by one hand of the user for selectively ejecting any particular key desired. The front end wall ll of the box is constructed with three parallel elongated slots l2, through which the same number of keys l3 are adapted to be partially ejected, as will be explained later. The interior of the box i0 is provided with a pair of parallel partition walls [4 holding cage member and I which are adapted to divide the box It! into three separated key retaining compartments l6. As the mechanisms in all of the separated compartments are identical, a description of one compartment will be suiilcient.

Each compartment contains a sliding keyl1. The opposed side walls of the cage H are each provided with a pair of elongated outwardly formed horizontal ribs I 8 which serve to accurately position the cage 10 in the surrounding compartment.

In order to detachably hold the key IS in locked engagement in the cage member I! with the bit end extending out of said member l1, provision is made of a spring metal plate I 9 disposed against one of the inner walls of said cage member l1, and provided with a series of rows of arced resilient vertical tongue members projecting into said'cage member l1. When the head l3a of a key [3 is inserted within the open 20 end of the cage H, the resilient tongue members 20 which engage against the adjacent surfaces of the key head l3a will be flattened out and elongated, as shown in Fig. 2, while those which do not engage said head l3a, will retain 26 their natural curved form around the perimeter of said head l3a. The key l3 will thus be securely held within the cage irrespective of its size or shape.

'The inner end of the cage I1 is reduced in 30 width to form a guiding section 2| for a rectangular compression spring 22, which is adapted to fit around it, said spring seating against a shoulder 2m. formed at the junction of the cage l1, and the reduced guiding section 2|. The bottom of said spring rests upon the end wall 23 of the case l0.

The key-releasing-and-locking mechanism is inclosed within a pair of rectangularly cupped shell members 24 and 25 which are adapted to 40 seal the open side end of the box Ill. The shell members 24 and 25, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, are disposed with their edges adjacent each other and separated by means of a dividing partition 26. A ratchet bar 21 is located within the shell members 24 and 25, and is slidable within an elongated slot 28 provided in the partition 26.

The ratchet member 21 is constructed with an L-shaped slot 29 centrally disposed therein, and opening into the edge of the ratchet member at 30. A series of ratchet teeth 3| are arranged on the inner edge of the L-slot 29 and are adept-- ed to be engaged by a pawlmember 32, which is transversely supported between a pair of ears 33 forming an integral part of the key-holding cage H. The ears 33 project within the inner shell 24 through an elongated slot 34 and straddle the ratchet bar 21.

In order to permit the ratchet bar 21 to be depressed for releasing the desired key, provision is made of a lateral lug 35 on each ratchet bar 21, to which is permanently secured a slotted knurled push-button 36 projecting through a suitable aperture in the side of the outer shell 25. The push button 36 is depressible against the influence of a leaf-spring 31, the intermediate portion of which is rigidly clamped between the push button 31 and the ratchet bar 21, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

The spring 31 is provided with a pair of bifurcated inclined legs 38 which are adapted to straddle the ratchet bar 21- and resiliently engage against the surface of the dividing partition 26, v

whereby said bar 21 will be pressed outwardly at all times. The relative positions of the ratchet bar 21 when the key is in the ejected and telescoped positions respectively, are clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Each of the partition walls I4 and I5, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, are provided with a plurality of lateral spaced integral lugs Ma and Ho, three in this instance, which are adapted to project through suitable apertures in the base of the inner shell 24, the ends of which abut against the dividing partition 26. The lugs Ma and I 5a serve to support the partition 26 and also hold the partition walls 14 and IS in proper position within the case I0.

Operation In order to operate the key retainer, it is only necessary to manually press one of the push buttons 36 to selectively eject the particular key that is desired. For example, if the middle key of the retainer is wanted, the left-hand push-button 36, as shown in Fig. 1, will be pressed. The pawl 32 will thus be disengaged from the adjacent teeth 3| on the ratchet bar 21, permitting the key cage l1 to be instantly slid forward in the casing under the influence of the spring 22, and eject the bit of the key I3 to the position as shown in Fig. 2. It is to be noted that, when the key I3 is in the ejected position, the pawl 32 will be located in the offset opening 30 of the L1 slot 29, and consequently the key will be locked securely in its ejected position.

In order to again telescope the key l3 within the retainer, it will only be necessary to depress the push button 36, and then place the tip end or nose of the key against a fiat surface, and push the box In as far as it will go. When the key is thus telescoped within the box II), the push-button may be released and the pawl 32 will be reengaged in the nearest ratchet tooth 3| to lock the key within said box.

In the modified form of the invention, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the key retainer is the same in all respects as the first form except for the key holding cage and ejector spring. The modified key holder cage, as indicated by the numeral 39, comprises a deep rectangular shaped frame open at the narrow end thereof. A sinuous spring member 40 is provided for holding the key l3 within the cage 39, said member 40 having a plurality of elongated vertical tongues 4H for engaging the head of the key i3.

The cage 39 is pressed upwardly by a leafspring 42 having a plurality of inclined sections 43, 44, 45, 46, and 41 of progressively decreasing length from the bottom to the top. The upper section 48 of said spring is horizontal, and engages the irame 21. The inclined sections are each connected by loops 49 to increase the resiliency and collapsibility thereof.

While there have been disclosed in this specification two forms in which the invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that these forms are shown for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is not to be limited to the specific disclosures but may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit. In short, the invention includes all the modifications and embodiments coming within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus fully described the invention what is claimed as new and for which it is desired to secure Letters Patent, is:

1. In a key retainer, a casing havirig an open end through which a key may be inserted and ejected, a holding cage for a headed key slidable in said casing, means in said cage for resiliently and detachably locking the head of said key therein with the bit outward, a spring beneath said cage for pressing it toward said open end, means in said casing for detachably locking said cage in depressed position in said casing, and a manually operated push-button for releasing said locking means, said key being removable from said cage merely by pulling outwardly on the bit end thereof.

2. In a key retainer, a casing having a plurality of parallel slots at one end through which keys may be inserted and selectively ejected, partitions in said casing for forming a series of separate compartments therein, each compartment having a key holding cage slidably fitted therein, means in said cage for resiliently and detachably holding a key, with its bit end extending outwardly, a compression spring engaging said cage for normally pressing it forward, means in said casing for detachably locking said cage in any desired depressed position, and manually operated means for releasing said locking means, said key being completely removable by pulling outwardly upon the bit end thereof.

3. In a key retainer, a casing having a. plurality of parallel slots at one end through which keys may be inserted and selectively ejected, partitions in said casing for forming a series of separate compartments therein, each compartment having a key holding cage slidably fitted therein, means in said cage for detachably holding a key therein with its bit extending outward, a compression spring engaging said cage for normally pressing it forward, means in said casing for detachably locking said cage in any desired depressed position, and manually operated means on the side of said casing for releasing said looking means, said key being completely removable by merely pulling outwardly upon the bit end thereof.

4. In a key retainer, a casing of substantially rectangular shape having an open end, a key hold ing cage slidable in said casing, said cage having a plurality of resilient parallel tongues for engaging on one side of the head of a key to detachably hold said key in said cage, the opening in the end of said casing being sufficiently wide to permit the insertion of the head of a key therethrough.

5. In a key retainer, a casing of substantially rectangular shape having an open end, a key holding cage slidable in said casing, said cage having a plurality of curved resilient parallel tongues for engaging on one side of the head of a key to detachably hold said key in said cage.

6. In a key retainer, a hollow casing having an open end, a key holding cage slidable in said casing, said cage having means for detachably and adjustably holding the head of a key therein with the bit end extending outwardly, and means to positively and detachably lock said cage with said bit end outside of the casing when said key is being used.

7. In a key retainer, a casing having an open end and a slotted wall through which a key may be inserted and ejected, a key holding cage having a detent slidable in said casing, a spring for pressing said cage toward said slotted wall, a ratchet chamber inserted in said open end, a ratchet means in said chamber for engaging said detent to lock said cage in depressed position in said casing, and a manually operated push-button for releasing said ratchet. means.

8. In a key retainer, a casing having an open end and a slotted wall through which a key may be inserted and ejected, a key holding cage having a detent slidable in said casing, a spring for pressing said cage toward said slotted wall, a

ratchet chamber inserted in said open end, a

spring-pressed ratchet means in said chamber for engaging said detent to lock said cage in depressed position in said casing, and a manually operated push-button for releasing said ratchet means.

9. In a key retainer, a casing having an open end and a slotted wall through which a key may be inserted and ejected, a key holding cage slidable in said casing, a compression spring beneath said cage for pressing it upward toward said slotted wall, a ratchet chamber comprising a pair of rectangular open shell members disposed with their open edges adjacent each other, a partition in said chamber located between said shells, said partition having an elongated slot, a toothed ratchet bar slidably supported in said slot, said cage having a detent pawl projecting into said chamber in alinement with the teeth of said ratchet bar for locking engagement therewith, and push-button means projecting outside said chamber and connected to said ratchet bar for forcing said bar transversely out of engagement with said detent pawl to permit said compression spring to lift said cage to eject said key.

10. In a key retainer, a casing having an open end and a slotted wall through which a key may be inserted and ejected, a'key holding cage slidable in said casing, a compression spring beneath said cage for pressing it upward toward said slotted wall, a ratchet chamber comprising a pair of rectangular open shell members disposed with their open edges adjacent each other, a partition in said chamber located between said shells, said ejected position against longitudinal movement.

11. In a key retainer, a casing having an open end and a slotted wall through which a key may be inserted and ejected, a key holding cage slidable in said casing, a compression spring beneath said cage for pressing it upward toward said slotted wall, a ratchet chamber comprising a pair of rectangular open shell members disposed with their open edges adjacent each other, a partition in said chamber located between said shells, said partition having an elongated slot, a ratchet bar slidably engaged in said partition slot, said bar having an elongated central slot with an oiIset opening connecting said central slot with the edge of said bar, said ratchethaving a series of teeth arranged on the inside edge of said central slot. spring means attached to said bar and engaged against said partition for normally pressing said bar outwardly, a push-button attached to said bar and projecting outside said chamber for manual manipulation, said cage having a detent pawl projecting into said chamber into alinement with said teeth tohold said cage in depressed telescoped position, said detent pawl being adapted to engage in said offset opening when said cage is in key ejecting position for locking the same against longitudinal movement when the key is being inserted in a lock.

12. In a key retainer, a hollow casing having an open end, a cage slidable in said casing and having means to hold the head of a key with the bit end thereof extending outwardly, a spring for pressing said cage toward the open end of said casing, and manually releasable detent means to hold said cage with the entire key concealed within said casing or with said cage located in any desired intermediate position.

13. In a key retainer, a hollow casing having an open end, a cage slidable in said casing and having means to hold the head of a key with the bit end thereof extending outwardly, a spring for pressing said cage toward the open end of said casing, and manually releasable detent means to hold said cage with the entire key concealed within said casing or with said cage located in any desired intermediate depressed position, the opening in the end of said casing being wide enough to permit the insertion in the removal or the entire key from said cage therethrough.

14. In a key retainer, a hollow casing having r an open end, a cage slidable in said casing and having means to hold the head of a key with the bit end thereof extending outwardly, a spring for pressing said cage toward the open end of said casing, and push button releasable detent means to hold said cage with the entire key concealed within said casing or with the key bit located outside said casing in operating position.

15. In a key retainer, a casing of substantially rectangular shape having an open end, a key holding cage slidable in said casing, spring means for pressing said cage toward the open end of said casing, said cage having a plurality of rows of resilient parallel tongues for engaging on one side of the head of a key to detachably hold said key in said cage, the opening in said casing being sufiiciently large to permit the insertion of the head of a key into said cage with the bit extending outwardly.

JOSEPH B. MANGAN. 

